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Obituaries

CARMELA FINKEL (nee SHRAGGE)

CarmelaWe lost our Mom, Bubby, Great-Bubby, Sister, Auntie and friend on October 9, 2020.

Born in Radziechow, Poland on March 22, 1933, our mom Carmela, and her older sister Betty, had a very happy early childhood, helping their mom in the kitchen and playing with friends, but things began to change around her when she was 6, with the rumblings of war and targeting of Jews. In 1941, the Nazis invaded their town. Fearing for their lives as a Jewish family, they went into hiding, ultimately ending up in a tiny mud hollow dug below the home of neighbours. These courageous Polish neighbours and another family risked their own lives, enabling Mom and her family to survive, despite numerous close calls. After 20 months in hiding, they were liberated by Russian soldiers in July 1944. Emerging weak and undernourished, they soon learned of the deaths of countless family members and the devastation of their Jewish community. Mom and her family made sure these two exceptional families were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem, a Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.
After several years in a Displaced Persons camp in Deggendorf, Germany, Mom and her family emigrated to Winnipeg in October 1948. Mom quickly mastered the English language and graduated with high marks from St John’s Tech.
In December 1952, Mom met the love of her life, Nathan, and after a whirlwind romance, they married on her 20th birthday. A year later, they had their first child, Allan, followed soon after by Marla, Mona and Gina and 5 1/2 years later, Sheldon completed their family.
Mom was the consummate homemaker and took pride in everything she did. She ensured our home was always tidy and filled with the aromas of freshly-baked goodies and delicious homemade meals. The freezers and cold room were always well stocked with preserves, pies, pickles and so much more. Mom really enjoyed sewing and knitting, creating beautiful clothing for herself and for her 3 daughters and even their dolls. Her intricate needlework graced the walls of our home. In later years, Mom spent many hours knitting for Cancer Care Manitoba and was so pleased to hear that her pieces were usually the first items sold.
It was important to Mom that her children have a strong Jewish upbringing and education, and she created a home that reflected that, including lighting Sabbath candles every Friday and observing Jewish holidays with delicious homemade traditional foods and rituals. She was known for her gefilte fish and kreplach and many other specialties. A legacy we all cherish is the Passover seder matzo bags she made for each of her children and grandchildren.
Mom loved music, especially opera, classical and liturgical pieces. She opened this world to us too, a gift we all continue to appreciate and share with our own families.
Mom was a life member of Masada Chapter of Pioneer Women Na’amat and also enjoyed bowling, mahjongg and power walking in Kildonan Park. She loved to travel, especially to see her family, and was so happy to meet many family members at the international ‘Schrage’ family gathering in 2003. Mom joined the workforce in her 40s and spent many years in retail, most notably as nation-wide top salesperson at La Vie en Rose.
Mom’s early years were lived in fear, terror and uncertainty, experiences that shaped her life in many ways. She was overly protective, needing to have her children close at all times and to make sure they were well-fed. In her later years, as difficult and painful as it was, Mom found the strength and courage to share her Holocaust experiences with countless students and others, determined to ensure the world never forgets.
Mom cherished her relationship with her sister Betty, her best friend and confidante. Their daily phone calls and frequent visits were very important to her, knowing they could talk about anything and that they would always be there for one another. Their loving and supportive relationship served as a wonderful model for us.
Family meant everything to Mom. She was so proud of her 5 children and that they all grew to be kind, caring and responsible adults who continued to maintain close relationships with each other. Mom loved spending time with her 12 grandchildren and delighted in the births of her 9 great-grandchildren. We can all still feel Mom’s signature bear hug.
Mom was predeceased by her parents, Caroline and Leon, and her beloved husband, Nathan. She will be lovingly remembered and missed by her sister Betty, her children Allan (Barb), Marla (Howie), Mona (Patrick), Gina (Bernie) and Sheldon (Arlie), grandchildren Lauren, Evan, Jordan, Adam, Laura, Yale, Jessica, Megan, Julian, Aaron, Cindy and Danny, great-grandchildren Noah, Ruby, Jude, Liam, Abigail, Isla, Jack, Emmy and Lyla, and many nieces, nephews and relatives in Israel and around the world.
Mom’s funeral service was held on October 12, 2020 at the Bnay Abraham Cemetery. Our family would like to thank Mom’s homecare workers and the staff and residents at the Portsmouth for their care and kindness. A special thank you to Tracy Kasner-Greaves for leading the funeral service and for her eulogy, which honoured Mom’s life so beautifully.
Donations in Mom’s memory may be made to the Carmela Shragge Finkel Holocaust Awareness Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (204-477-7525 or https://www.jewishfoundation.org/send-a-card) or to a charity of your choice.

 

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Obituaries

Lorraine Norma Reiner (nee Reich)

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Lorraine Reiner announces the passing of our mother and baba after a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her children, Marlaina (Hillel) and Susan (Wil), her grandchildren, Sarah (Justin), Jordana (Blake), and Micah, and her great grandson, Elias. She was predeceased by her parents Rose and Sam, her husband Barry, her brother Max, her son Sam, and her granddaughters June and Beth.
Lorraine, at her core, was a loving caregiver. Lor-raine‘s father died when she was only eight years old. She grew up helping her mother with household and family chores after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She cared for her mother-in-law, husband, and cousin during their battles with ill-nesses and final stages of life.
We remember Lorraine as a woman whose love for her family knew no limits. She adored her children and grandchildren and formed special bonds with each of them. Her family was everything to her, and she meant the world to her family. She stepped into the role of Baba Lorraine with open arms and an enormous heart; there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her children and grandchildren. Lorraine was surrounded by her family during her final stage of life.
Cooking was an important part of Lorraine’s identi-ty. She was most famous for her chicken soup and S-cookies and she loved to spread joy and comfort through sharing her cooking with others. She always had a freezer stocked with homemade meals and anytime a family member felt unwell, she was at the ready with a batch of “Jewish penicillin”.
Lorraine had a diverse and eclectic resume that in-cluded office work for all three Jewish Newspapers, including The Jewish Post, The Western Jewish News, and The Yiddeshe Vort. Later she worked as office staff at Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate and As-troid Management. Her final job was an 11-year tenure as a clerk for the City of Winnipeg’s Assess-ment Department.
Lorraine loved sharing stories with everyone and had a special way of getting lost in a story. Any-one who had the pleasure of listening to one of Lor-raine’s stories knows how her mood instantly lit up when she had the opportunity to share. Her stories, alongside her recipes, will live on through her loved ones.
The funeral was held at the Chesed Shel Emes on Tuesday March 26, followed by a burial service at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Blake Nichols, Justin Odwak, Cal & Asher Reich, Brian Rosenberg, Wil Scheiring, Sean Smith, and Micah Sommer. Honorary pallbearers were Mickey Rosenberg & Alan Schweid.
The family wishes to thank the numerous health-care staff who participated in Lorraine’s care over the past couple of months, especially the wonderful staff at the Health Sciences Centre H3 surgical unit, Drs. Bubis, Goldenberg, Lipschitz, Shell, and Visser.

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Obituaries

EDWARD PERRY REISS April 30, 1935 – February 20, 2024

Ed was born in Poland in 1935 and fled to Canada in 1939 with his parents Raizel and Ira and older brothers Harry and Sam. The family settled in Edenbridge, SK where they farmed and where sister Ida was born.
In high school, the family moved to Winnipeg where Ed attended St. John’s before attending the University of Manitoba and finishing at the University of Western Ontario.
In 1968, Ed met his wife Barbara playing badminton at the YMHA. They were married three months later and left for New York where Ed trained as a stockbroker on Wall Street. Returning to Winnipeg, Ed worked as a broker for years before joining Barbara in what became the family business, Desserts Plus. They worked together for close to 40 years.
In 1971 daughter Lisa was born followed by Pam in 1974. Ed loved spending time with his family at their cottage near Kenora or on many road trips around North America and trips around the world. We were blessed and fortunate to be able to enjoy our time together.
Ed is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara; daughter Pam and his buddy Farfel, as well as his brother Sam, sister Ida Alpern and in-laws, Len and Lynne Shapiro, Honey Kowall, and nephews and nieces.
Ed was predeceased by his dear daughter Lisa, parents, Raizel and Ira, in-laws, Irene and Joe Shapiro, brother Harry, sisters-in-law, Vicky and Bayla, brothers-in-law, Saul Alpern and David Shapiro.
The family thanks the wonderful staff at the Simkin Centre who were very supportive and caring during his time there. And our deep thanks to Cantor Tracy Kasner for performing the burial ceremony with kindness and sensitivity.
Ed was a man of integrity, intelligence, honesty, wit, and above all else, he loved his girls.

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Obituaries

PHILIP KAHANOVITCH

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Philip Kahanovitch in Winnipeg, MB on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
Philip will be remembered by his dear son Joshua; brother David; niece and nephews, Deborah, Aaron and Jonathan. Philip was predeceased by his loving wife Susan, parents, Moses and Esther, brother Gerry, and sister-in-law Risa.
Philip was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Philip loved travelling on cruises and throughout both North America and Europe. Philip will be remembered for his career as a teacher in both Altona, Neepawa, and Winnipeg, and for his long standing practice as a professional accountant. Philip adored dogs, particularly terriers, and owned several furry companions over the years, including his beloved Hamish.
Following a service, Philip was interred at Rosh Pina Cemetery. If loved ones desire, a memorial donation can be made to a charity of their choice.

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